"Osu Castle was on the world heritage list, it would be more appropriate if the entire area of Osu was accorded a heritage status."

The President of the Osu Traditional Council, Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona VI, has appealed to the government to hand over the Osu Castle to the traditional area, since it is no more the seat of government.

He said the Osu Castle would serve as a tourist site due to its association with the slave trade.

Nii Kinka Dowuona, who is also the Osu Mantse, made the appeal when the Greater Accra office of the Ghana Tourism Authority, in conjunction with the Osu Traditional Council, marked this year’s World Tourism Day in Accra on the theme: “ Tourism for all, promoting universal accessibility.”

Nii Kinka Dowuona also appealed to the government to declare the Osu Traditional Area a heritage zone.

He explained that since the Osu Castle was on the world heritage list, it would be more appropriate if the entire area of Osu was accorded a heritage status.

Tourists attraction

Nii Kinka Dowuona said plans were also advanced to make the area a beacon of tourism, beginning with the rebranding of the Osu Homowo Festival next year.

He said the council had initiated “a week of restoration” during which the Osu town would be cleaned and painted by families and volunteers ahead of the festival.

In addition, he said the youth in the community would be trained in basic carpentry, masonry and electrical repairs.

Nii Kinka Dowuona further stated that they would rebuild their relationship with the Danish government to help them train tour guides, interpreters, as well as service providers.

“We also want to approach the Moroccan government through our Ministry of Tourism to assist us to introduce horse-drawn carts to carry visitors from one end of Osu to this square near the Osu King’s palace,” he said.

Committee

The Minister for Tourism, Culture and Creative Arts, Mrs Elizabeth Ofosu-Adjare, inaugurated a 13-member Osu Tourism Development Committee to oversee the implementation of the Osu Marine Drive Investment Project.

The committee is chaired by Nii Okwei Kinka Dowuona.

Mrs Ofosu-Adjare said tourism was one of the fastest growing industries of the world, contributing significantly to global and local economies.

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